Election 2009: Beau Taylor seeking fourth term as Rockwell mayor

Taylor

By Shavonne Potts

spotts@salisburypost.com

ROCKWELL — Rockwell Mayor Beau Taylor has announced he will seek re-election this November to a fourth term.

Taylor, 66, filed Monday, the first day of filing for municipal elections in Rowan County, and said he filed early "so the citizens would know my interest in the town is still strong and my health is still good."

Taylor said he continues to be available to the citizens and employees of Rockwell as needed.

Taylor, who also served as mayor pro tem, said he's enjoyed his years as mayor and would like to continue in the job.

"I like serving the people," he said.

One project he is passionate about seeing completed this year is the long-awaited paving of Gold Hill Avenue, across from town hall. The state has promised the town for the better part of 25 years to pave the road.

"The road has never been paved. It's been promised that it would be paved," Taylor said.

In the last two years, only a small block was paved. However, Taylor and many residents want the entire road paved.

He also looks forward to helping the town get "through the economic crunch and into better times again."

Taylor has lived in Rockwell since 1974. He and his wife, Arlene, live at 630 Lake Drive. They have two daughters, Elizabeth and Jamie, and three grandsons.

Taylor attended Denton High School, Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk and graduated from Pfeiffer College. He served six years in the Army National Guard. Taylor retired from the former Food Town, now Food Lion, in 1992. He was a manager of the Rockwell store for nearly 30 years. He is a member of the Rockwell Community Association and serves on the town Revitalization Committee and the Rockwell Park Committee.

He attends Stallings Memorial Baptist Church in Salisbury.

Monday was the first day Rowan County candidates could file in this year's municipal elections. Also filing Monday:

- For Salisbury City Council, incumbents Susan Wear Kluttz, William "Pete" Kennedy, Mark N. Lewis and Paul Bernhardt Woodson Jr., and challengers Blake Jarman, Maggie Blackwell and Michael S. Young.

- For Cleveland mayor, John Irvin Steele Jr., a current town commissioner, and for the town's Board of Commissioners, incumbent Danny Gabriel.

The filing period ends July 17 at noon in Rowan County.